East Ventures backs AI, climate tech in sustainability push

East Ventures, an Indonesia-based venture capital firm focused on Southeast Asia, released its 2026 sustainability report on May 19.

The report outlined how the firm applies governance, climate, and workplace policies across its investment activities and internal operations.

The report says the firm invests across sectors including AI, fintech, healthtech, logistics, and climate tech.

It also highlights programs such as My First $1000 in Singapore, Indonesia’s Digital Competitiveness Index, and the ECOVISEA greenhouse gas calculator.

East Ventures said it aims to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions including financed emissions by 2050.

The firm also said its Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions fell 23% in 2025 compared with 2024.

🔗 Source: East Ventures

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

East Ventures is leaning into climate tech because Southeast Asia faces severe risks from sea level rise and extreme weather 1.
Its Sustainable Investment Strategy rests on two pillars. One backs sustainable businesses. The other tries to prevent and reduce social and environmental harm across portfolio companies 2.
East Ventures was the first Indonesian venture capital firm to sign the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment, a framework that asks investors to weigh environmental, social, and governance issues in their decisions. The firm says it aims to help portfolio companies follow those standards 2.

Its pledge covers financed emissions, a hard target in East Asia because limited corporate disclosure makes the calculations tough 3.
Transition Asia estimates that a passive asset manager covering leading listed companies across Japan, China and Hong Kong SAR could calculate financed emissions for only about 28% of assets under management in East Asia, even if disclosed Scope 3 data were complete 3.
That target could push private early-stage companies in its portfolio to track emissions sooner. It may also raise reporting expectations across parts of the region’s startup ecosystem.